For those who may not have been paying attention, “A small group of developing countries are transforming the global economic landscape,” the Congressional Research Service observed in a report last month. “Led by China, India, and Brazil, these rising economic powers pose varied challenges and opportunities for U.S. economic interests and leadership of the global economy.” See “Rising Economic Powers and the Global Economy: Trends and Issues for Congress” (pdf), August 22, 2011.
Other new reports from CRS that have not been made readily available to the public include the following (all pdf).
“Cost-Benefit and Other Analysis Requirements in the Rulemaking Process,” August 30, 2011
“Climate Change: Conceptual Approaches and Policy Tools,” August 29, 2011
“Financing Recovery After a Catastrophic Earthquake or Nuclear Power Incident,” August 25, 2011
“Addressing the Long-Run Budget Deficit: A Comparison of Approaches,” August 25, 2011
“Homeland Security Department: FY2012 Appropriations,” September 2, 2011
“Congressional Primer on Major Disasters and Emergencies,” August 31, 2011
Satellite imagery of RAF Lakenheath reveals new construction of a security perimeter around ten protective aircraft shelters in the designated nuclear area, the latest measure in a series of upgrades as the base prepares for the ability to store U.S. nuclear weapons.
It will take consistent leadership and action to navigate the complex dangers in the region and to avoid what many analysts considered to be an increasingly possible outcome, a nuclear conflict in East Asia.
Getting into a shutdown is the easy part, getting out is much harder. Both sides will be looking to pin responsibility on each other, and the court of public opinion will have a major role to play as to who has the most leverage for getting us out.
How the United States responds to China’s nuclear buildup will shape the global nuclear balance for the rest of the century.